Words and Images by Vince Shuley
www.vinceshuley.com
We are again in the midst of the biggest mountain bike festival in the world. Racers are hurling themselves down mountains at breakneck-speed while slopestylers are performing near super-human aerial acrobatics for our viewing pleasure. Such skill can rarely be attributed to talent alone. Years of training, practice, patience and injuries have moulded the top athletes at Crankworx. It's a long road that, for majority of athletes starts as simply as them riding a bike as a child.
Whistler is making its own contribution to the next generation of mountain shredders. Before kids start flipping onto airbags and pinning it down A-Line, they need to learn the basics.
There are several ways to get kids involved including the ever-popular WORCA dirt camps, but one of the favourites is Whistler Blackcomb's DFX Club, which has been nurturing young riders on downhill since it officially began five years ago.
Anna Boyd is the director of DFX and has had several years of experience coaching and managing Whistler Kids Club Ski programs as well. As downhill and cross-country mountain biking grew exponentially-popular in Whistler, she saw the need for a program to get local kids onto their bikes at an early age.
"Our first class went out in 2006 with four kids," said Boyd.
"They were riding the Magic bike park at the bottom of Blackcomb and used to play games during their breaks. The next year (2007) we hadn't done any advertising at all and I was the only coach. Fourteen kids rocked up out of nowhere so we had to make another class and recruit a second coach. The numbers went up dramatically every year and we now have over 170 kids in 31 groups."
DFX Club runs for the months of July and August with options of one or two days a week. Kids as young as five can enrol in the "Green" program, though they have to have ridden a bike before and be able to use handbrakes. As Boyd explains, XC is the focus for the 5-7-year-old novice riders.
"Our beginner and novice groups start on the easy trails like Lost Lake Loop,' said Boyd.
"We like to build up their physical and emotional stamina before attempting climbs like Tin Pants and Molly Hogan. When they've gained the stamina and skill to try single track they'll start descending the easier Zappa trails. The goal is to get the green groups descending a trail like Peaches en Regalia confidently by the end of the season."
The "Blue" program gives 8-12-year-olds one day in the bike park and one day in the valley. Most kids in Blue have had a year or two in Green or already have plenty of riding experience. Park days involve plenty of laps on the intermediate classics like B-Line and Devil's Club with sessions at the skills centres in between. XC days start to tackle more difficult climbs and more technical blue trails with features.
When the kids get the clearance from their coach to ride with DFX "Black" for ages 10-14-years-old they have the option of splitting their time between the two disciplines or spending all their time in the bike park. DFX kids learn early on that XC riding has its rewards; pedalling up the climb earns your downhill time. At the same time they are shown that downhill can make you a better XC rider and vice versa. Every DFX coach must have an appreciation of both disciplines and be able to pass that appreciation onto the kids.
I'm at mid station on Whistler Mountain where a group of DFX Blue kids are warming up on a mini pump track. Long-time Whistler resident and veteran mountain bike coach Foose Foose raises his helmet off his face so his student's can clearly hear his instructions. With an athlete's determination the kids listen, learn and pedal to the top of the track for another lap.
Competitive nature sets in as each tries to outdo the other with speed through the berms and air off the jump.
Foose calls the kids over and lines them up at the top of B-Line. It's time for downhill and these kids are raring to go. With safe spacing they drop in one by one, with Foose tailing at the rear. As I follow I hear the hoots and hollers of children having fun. But they're not the only ones enjoying themselves. Foose has been coaching this group of kids for the last three years.
"My favourite thing about coaching DFX is the long-term rapport we get to build with the kids over the summer," said Foose.
"Seeing them develop as riders, as athletes and over the years, as people. I love biking and being able to pass that passion onto the kids has been incredibly rewarding."
A week later I'm riding with a friend on A River Runs Through It and run into Foose's crew. The kids are taking turns riding a low skinny, again all trying to outdo one another. I wonder in how many short years these groms will be overtaking me on A-Line on their way to competing at Crankworx.
While DFX can currently only offer classes for kids up to 14-years-old, there are plenty of more advanced racing and freeride camps based in Whistler that they can feed into such as Summer Gravity Camps and ZEP Techniques. If families can't commit for the two months of the season there is option to try out DFX Daily (one day lessons just in bike park) or enrol in the four-day WORCA Youth Dirt Camps.
Classes are already finalized for this season, but if you are looking to enrol your child next summer, booking will open in February 2012. The most popular Tuesday/Thursday program sold out in just two days this year: so be sure to get in early.
For more information on DFX Club go to www.whistlerbike.com/camps-lessons/camps/dfx .
(Ticket2RideBC also provides guided mountain bike tours in Whistler and Pemberton, though not regular classes for youth. They can be reached at info@ticket2ridebc.com.)
